International popularity

Iaido is a Japanese martial art enjoyed by a wide range of generations worldwide. Particularly in Western countries, many people are strongly attracted to the spirituality and philosophy of Iaido, and its popularity is growing along with interest in Japanese traditional culture such as Bushido and Zen. Among foreigners who start Iaido, many pursue training not just for the acquisition of martial arts techniques, but also for the purpose of improving concentration, self-control, and spiritual growth.
In recent years, Japanese anime and manga have gained significant global attention, further increasing interest in iaido. For example, anime and manga works themed around samurai and swords have become worldwide hits, leading to a rise in young people who admire characters in these works and develop a deep interest in Japanese swords and samurai culture itself. The popular game "Touken Ranbu," in particular, has garnered passionate support with its unique world where characters are personifications of Japanese swords. Through this game, there has been a surge in fans interested in the history and artistic value of each individual Japanese sword.

As a result, there has been a surge in foreign tourists who want to experience iaido, where they can actually touch Japanese swords, and more people are visiting dojos and martial arts experience facilities across Japan. Iaido experience events are particularly popular with tourists from Europe and North America, and are highly regarded as a valuable experience where they can genuinely feel Japanese traditional culture.

In response to this trend, dojos and schools for seriously learning Iai-do are rapidly increasing overseas, and international competitions are also frequently held. Iai-do transcends the boundaries of mere martial arts and also serves as an entry point to Japanese culture as a whole, continuing to broaden its fan base across new generations and borders through the fusion of tradition and contemporary pop culture.